Taxi for Julian Assange? Supporters scuffle with cops outside Ecuador embassy in London

A British policeman asks a taxi driver, who had apparently arrived following a request to pick up Julian Assange, to leave after he pulled up outside the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where the Wikileaks founder has sought political asylum, on August 16, 2012.

Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

Supporters of Julian Assange gather outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London on August 16, 2012. Assange has been living inside the embassy since June 19 after requesting political asylum whilst facing extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault.

Facundo Arrizabalaga / EPA

A supporter of Julian Assange is held by police outside the Ecuador embassy in London on August 16, 2012.

Updated at 8:52 a.m. ET: LONDON -- Ecuador granted asylum to Julian Assange on Thursday, expressing fury at a threat by Britain to seize the WikiLeaks founder at its London embassy.

A Reuters reporter saw at least three protesters being dragged away by police as the crowd shouted: "You are trying to start a war with Ecuador." About 20 officers were outside the embassy trying to push away the crowd of about 15 supporters. Read the full story.

Ecuadorian officials have announced they will grant political asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been evading extradition to Sweden for the past eight weeks inside Ecuador's embassy in London. TODAY's Tamron Hall reports.